OT: question about churches & communion

[prov1810]

True enough... but that's not going to get us to the point of partaking of HIS body and blood. Only The Eucharist does that, according to Orthodox Christianity.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

I personally do not think of the communion service as being merely the symbol of an historical event (the Cross). And I don't think of the bread and juice as literally being His body and blood. But communion takes place - Jesus gives Himself to us and we share and participate in His own life. So I don't think there's an important difference here. The point is communion with Jesus, either in or through the elements. And in Him we have communion with one another - Orthodox and Catholic and Protestant.

It's Jesus' way of being that we receive. Can we be broken? Can we be so generous that we pour ourselves out? We are saying that we want this because we want Jesus to live in us.

 

[seashale76]

It's sad that some only see the Eucharist as merely a religious ritual and only symbolic. I was raised in churches that down played communion and only saw it as symbolic. It was just as underwhelming, unimportant, and pointless as some make it out to be around here. They're right, there's nothing there. However, there is another way. I've experienced Christ in the Eucharist. The two are like comparing apples and oranges. Some people are pooh-poohing something from a stance of complete ignorance.

 

[Albion]

I wholeheartedly disagree. That is not what I see in Scripture and that is not what I have experienced. Most of my most personal and most impacting encounters with Jesus were far from any religious ritual.

If you have nothing to compare those experiences with, how would you know?

 

[mont974x4]

If you have nothing to compare those experiences with, how would you know?

Having grown up in church and having been exposed to many faith groups I have plenty to compare.

EDIT TO ADD:
BTW, as a pastor, I have never downplayed Communion. I do, however, reject the extra-biblical teachings of certain faith groups in regards to this issue.

 

[prov1810]

It's sad that some only see the Eucharist as merely a religious ritual and only symbolic.

I think a lot of this is protestant theology-by-reaction, as if the really essential thing is being deliberately and conspicuously not-Catholic.

 

[mont974x4]

I think a lot of this is protestant theology-by-reaction, as if the really essential thing is being deliberately and conspicuously not-Catholic.

No, its a desire to be explicitly biblical.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

No, its a desire to be explicitly biblical.

Is that a fundamentalist thing?

God be gracious to me a sinner.

 

[Albion]

All of it is off-topic, that's for sure--for both the Catholics and the reformed Christians. The OP was a question about which churches make the Communion a focus.

 

[Tangible]

It's sad that some only see the Eucharist as merely a religious ritual and only symbolic. I was raised in churches that down played communion and only saw it as symbolic. It was just as underwhelming, unimportant, and pointless as some make it out to be around here. They're right, there's nothing there. However, there is another way. I've experienced Christ in the Eucharist. The two are like comparing apples and oranges. Some people are pooh-poohing something from a stance of complete ignorance.

Ultra-mega-über-dittos.

 

[Tangible]

No, its a desire to be explicitly biblical.

Yeah like "This symbolizes my body." That's TOTALLY biblical.

 

[prov1810]

Yeah like "This symbolizes my body." That's TOTALLY biblical.

"I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

 

[graceandpeace]

Thanks for the input.

I knew about Lutherans, but I just can't affirm some of their theology. And I was attending a UMC - they were observing communion every other week. They treated it with more respect than I have observed in other Protestant churches, but I am just fearful of the UMC's future, with the politics & infighting (think recent defrocking of unrepentant pastor...and the many who side with said pastor & want doctrine changed...)

So, if I can't go UMC, it seems my only options are Anglican & EOC (can't affirm RCC doctrine & OOC is a bit too far of a drive in the morning to explore).

Back to where I started, lol.

 

[Cappadocious]

"I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Where do you think we drink it when we partake of the Eucharist?

 

[Albion]

Back to where I started, lol.

Yes, but you have a little more information now to help you make your decision, I hope. Probably a few visits to the churches under consideration will also help a lot.

 

[sunlover1]

Ok. I have come to believe that a church service should center around the Eucharist/communion.

Why?
Is that what the early church services were centered around?
What was a service like? Did someone get up and preach up
front? Paul maybe?
I'm familiar with Pauls remarks to the Corinthians about their
meetings being chaotic, and their "love feasts" being self
serving.. other than that, I can't remember.

But then again, shouldn't our "assembling of ourselves"
be as God leads? Or do they have to have routine form?
According to Scripture, I'd say it would be flexible, as
the Spirit leads.

IMO

 

[Tangible]

How about being dually centered on Word and Sacrament? That's what I see.

 

[Albion]

Why?
Is that what the early church services were centered around?
What was a service like? Did someone get up and preach up
front? Paul maybe?
I'm familiar with Pauls remarks to the Corinthians about their
meetings being chaotic, and their "love feasts" being self
serving.. other than that, I can't remember.

But then again, shouldn't our "assembling of ourselves"
be as God leads? Or do they have to have routine form?
According to Scripture, I'd say it would be flexible, as
the Spirit leads.

IMO

Tangible's right that when someone says "focus on the Eucharist" or something like that, it shouldn't mean "to the exclusion of everything else."

The usual liturgical service, regardless of denomination, includes Communion but also praise, petition, readings from Scripture, sermon, and fellowship. Of course it's possible to have all of that without Communion, so some churches trend too far one way or the other--either minimizing everything except Communion or having everything but the Communion. Luther is well remembered for bringing the balance back to the Church of the late Middle Ages.

Merry Christmas!

 

[bling]

GraceAndPeace,

I think the most accurate answer to give you would be "no."

Certain exceptions come to mind, however, and other posters have already mentioned them.

Lutherans have a high view of the sacrament, but few congregations observe Holy Communion every week. So, you may be able to find a Lutheran church that is similar to an Anglican parish in this regard, but it would be a 'hit and miss' proposition for you.

Also, and as Hedrick said, "The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)" and their cousins, the Churches of Christ, do have Holy Communion every week and value it highly. However, these are strictly non-ritualistic, unceremonial, churches which think of Communion as entirely symbolic.

I suspect that for a person like yourself who's looking at such churches as the Anglican and Eastern Orthodox, this is not what you have in mind when you say "high focus to communion."

Like everything else the communion was established to help Christians with their spiritual development (becoming more like Christ/ God in that they become more Loving).

The Communion is not some ritualistic “offering” like the burnt offerings of the Old Testament that really meant nothing to God, but it is a very important reminder for us, so what result is it trying to accomplish?

 

[Albion]

Like everything else the communion was established to help Christians with their spiritual development (becoming more like Christ/ God in that they become more Loving).

Not sure where you picked up that idea.

The Communion is not some ritualistic “offering” like the burnt offerings of the Old Testament that really meant nothing to God, but it is a very important reminder for us, so what result is it trying to accomplish?

I guess that depends on how you define the sacrament. If it's just "a very important reminder," as you say, I suppose all it can accomplish is to remind us of Christ's Last Supper, Crucifixion, and etc.

 

[Rick Otto]

True enough... but that's not going to get us to the point of partaking of HIS body and blood. Only The Eucharist does that, according to Orthodox Christianity.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

It's a metaphor for partaking of eternal life.
Do it often, in memory of Him.